Ever heard of super solos?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by thefuture, Dec 22, 2007.

  1. smadronia

    smadronia Heavy Load Member

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    Super solo isn't a myth, but I don't think that's how you're going to want to run. They way I've always heard is described is that it's a team driving a load, but they have a solo driver's time to get it there. In other words, if you wanted to run 600 miles a day as a team, you could, and you'd still have enough time to get the load to it's delivery. You're still a team, it's just a team that covers less miles.

    The company I work for has a 'kind of' super solo, they only have so many team loads, so often you get a single driver's load as a team. You can choose to drive it straight there and drop it in a yard (unless there's an exception) or you can take the leisurely drive, or something in between. My co-driver and I like to take one of these once in a while, so we have time to catch up on sleep and do laundry.

    Per diem is a certain amount per mile that's not taxed, ours is 8 cents per mile. The solo drivers get it as well,but the downside is as a team, we split the per diem, so it's 4 cents a mile.

    If you want to run miles, you're not going to want to stay a super single. You might need a few weeks to get used to driving, but if you want to run hard, super single is not where it's at.
     
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  3. CountryCharm05

    CountryCharm05 Bobtail Member

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    I'm glad someone finally knew what a super solo was. I had no clue, could only guess at that one.
     
  4. kd5drx

    kd5drx <strong>Master of Electronic Communications</stron

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    SNI used to have what they called C teams which were 2 drivers teamed up both right out of school and there trainers and they had a limit of 16 hours to drive each day and the truck had to be setting still for 8 hours straight just like a solo truck but this gave the two new people a chance to learn together and split the time with out being pushed or wore out and develop there own style of running i never thought to much of it but that was one of the steps to being a left seat with SNI back then.
     
  5. jlkklj777

    jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

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    You are correct. The company gets out of paying social security and medicare tax on the "per diem" amount which does in fact save them money.

    You also do not pay as much in social security tax, medicare tax, federal, state, or local taxes which increases your take home pay each week.

    Here are some of the drawbacks of accepting per diem as I understand it;

    In the event you get hurt and have to go on "disability" your disability benefit will be based on your taxable earnings.

    If you are applying for a home loan or car loan your earnings will also appear to be less.

    In the event you are over compensated for the perdiem allowance by your employer you must declare the overpayment as "additional earnings" when you file your taxes and may owe tax on that.

    If you are underpaid on the per diem during the year then you may claim the difference on your taxes.

    In short the perdiem pay is a scheme designed to allow your employer to save money by taking your deduction all year and dodging additional tax liability.

    Now the upside to a per diem pay scheme is if your a deadbeat dad or going through a divorce and you want to stick it to your ex on the alimony and child support then yes you could go for the perdiem option and legitimately show you are making less taxable earnings than you really are.
     
    TruckerDesiree Thanks this.
  6. mathematrucker

    mathematrucker Medium Load Member

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    Marten's recent company newsletter states: "The other most common question is about income verifications. When you need income verification for a loan, mortgage, etc, we will include your gross income plus per diem. Per diem is a benefit..."

    No it isn't. As the previous post indicated, it's a scheme, not a benefit.
     
  7. didntitellu

    didntitellu Light Load Member

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    My FM used the term once. My co-driver was ill and unable to drive, so he asked me to run it "super-solo". What he meant was run illegally on my co-drivers log book. I guess that meant to him one person doing the work of two.
     
  8. drive55cat

    drive55cat Medium Load Member

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    Just goes to show, they will ask you anything. You know where you would be if you are caught, or in an accident. Something pertaining to creeks and paddles, I think.
     
  9. GungHoGal

    GungHoGal <strong>"Miss Oh! Don't get me started"</strong>

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    Some friends of mine drive "super solo" for Marten. Basically the husband, who is the more experienced driver, drives his miles as a solo and then the wife just drives a little bit here and there. Their pay is individual, unlike mine and my husbands driving as a team and splitting .47. We figured it out based on the same amount of miles and we made a TON more than they did, so I think its just a companies way of getting off cheap!!
     
  10. panhandlepat

    panhandlepat Road Train Member

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    kinda like the "dehydrated water" LMAO!
     
  11. didntitellu

    didntitellu Light Load Member

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    Don't forget to grab me a bottle of level bubbles while ur in the truck.
     
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